Dear Tiger Community,
We know how important it is to remain open for in-person instruction. Our goal this year is to maximize the number of student learning days and the number of students safely attending in-person learning in our buildings. And we need the help of our entire school community to make that happen.
In the event our area is designated a yellow zone, Department of Health (DOH) guidance requires that schools test 20% of in-person students, teachers, and staff over a two-week period in order to remain open for in-person instruction. If we find our positivity rate is lower than the yellow zone, testing at the school would no longer be required to continue. Obtaining your parental/guardian consent for COVID testing of students is the first step to begin to plan testing protocols and to enable us to stay open for in-person instruction.
To be designated as a yellow zone:
- Washington County’s seven-day infection rate must be 3.5% or higher for 10 consecutive days;
- As of 12/10, Washington County’s current seven-day infection rate is 1.8%.
- Washington County’s seven-day average of new positives must be 10 or more;
- As of 12/10, Washington County’s average is currently 6.4.
Under a Yellow Zone designation, with parent/guardian consent, your child may be randomly selected to receive a free diagnostic test for the COVID-19 virus. The testing process will involve a trained nurse inserting a small swab, similar to a Q-Tip, into the front of the nose. This is the simple, quick, shallow nasal swab test. Results are available in 15 minutes. Anyone who tests positive will be notified.
As we continue to develop our testing plan, we are asking parent(s)/guardian(s) to fill out this consent form for student rapid COVID-19 testing. To learn more, please read our FAQs regarding testing protocols and a video that demonstrates the testing process. We will be using an Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag. test that only entails a shallow nasal swab.
This has been a challenging year for all of us. However, you can count on the administrators, faculty, staff, and me to work hard to meet the needs of your children.
Sincerely,
Jon Hunter, Interim Superintendent